If you’ve spent any time on eBay, watching auctions and inspecting cards, you might be surprised how much the market has changed in recent years. Sure, it’s still possible to find bargain-priced cards, which are sometimes undervalued for various reasons. But if you’re searching for rare and collectible cards, then you don’t want to overpay for them. Most sellers know their stuff; but it still pays to be informed. This is my list of 25 most valuable Joe Montana Cards – used only for collecting purposes.
Joe Clifford Montana Jr is a former American Football quarterback who played for 16 seasons with two teams; the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Below are 25 most valuable cards—in no particular order— that chronicle Montana’s beginning as a rookie to his retirement. Take a journey back in time and relive the exciting career of Joe Montana.
Table of Contents
25 Most Valuable Joe Montana Cards: Price List
S/N |
Card |
Year |
Grade |
Price |
1 |
Topps Joe Montana |
1982 |
BGS 9.5 |
$1,500 |
2 |
Joe Montana NFL Pro Card 2 Ultimate Rare Mint |
1990 |
Ungraded |
$1,624.49 |
3 |
Panini Prizm Gold Prizms Refractor Joe Montana |
2015 |
PSA 10 |
$2,000 |
4 |
Panini Encased Joe Montana Legendary |
2020 |
BGS 9 |
$2,499.99 |
5 |
Joe Montana Signature Performances 49ers Uniform |
1999 |
PSA 10 |
$1,999.99 |
6 |
Joe Montana Panini Limited Ring of Honor |
2019 |
Ungraded |
$1,249.99 |
7 |
Joe Montana Topps Finest Refractor Card |
1994 |
PSA 9 |
$4,995.95 |
8 |
Joe Montana NFL Player Of The Year |
1989 |
Ungraded |
$1,250 |
9 |
Topps Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers |
1985 |
PSA 10 |
$1,900 |
10 |
Joe Montana Legendary Signatures Sapphire |
2021 |
BGS 9 |
$2,500 |
11 |
Absolute Football Joe Montana Kaboom |
2021 |
PSA 9 |
$799.99 |
12 |
Joe Montana Leaf Certified Mirror Red Signatures |
2004 |
BGS 9 |
$500 |
13 |
Panini Absolute Joe Montana True 1/1 Laundry Tag Patch Auto |
2018 |
Ungraded |
$2,999.99 |
14 |
Joe Montana Topps Archives Signature Rookie RC Reprint |
2001 |
Ungraded |
$2,999.99 |
15 |
Score Joe Montana Personalized Inscriptions Card |
2003 |
Ungraded |
$1,000 |
16 |
Topps Joe Montana GEM Mint |
1982 |
BGS 9.5 |
$1,500 |
17 |
Topps Gold Parallel Joe Montana Card |
1992 |
PSA 10 |
$1,195 |
18 |
Joe Montana National Treasures Greatest Signatures |
2012 |
BGS 9 |
$1,499.95 |
19 |
Stadium club Joe Montana lone star signatures |
2000 |
PSA 9 |
$2,000 |
20 |
Panini Flawless Greats Joe Montana Dual Patch Sapphire Auto |
2016 |
BGS 9 |
$4,000 |
21 |
Joe Montana ” 24 K Gold 1 OF 1 Topps Stadium Club |
1995 |
Ungraded |
$2,500 |
22 |
Joe Montana Fleer Premiere Edition Sports Trading Card |
1990 |
Ungraded |
$2,750 |
23 |
Joe Montana National Treasures |
2007 |
PSA 10 |
$2,999.99 |
24 |
Topps Football Cello Pack Joe Montana Card |
1983 |
PSA 10 |
$1,950 |
25 |
Joe Montana Rare Topps |
1986 |
BGS 9.5 |
$3,999 |
1. 1981 Topps Joe Montana
Year: 1981
Price: $1,500
Grade: BGS 9.5
Card Number: #113
Joe Montana is seen here with a ball, wearing his jersey number 16. He started this season in 1981 as San Francisco’s starting quarterback. It was one of the most successful seasons for both him and the team due mostly to his sterling performance. He helped the team win two games with fourth-quarter comebacks. This card is graded by BGS at 9.5.
2. 1990 Joe Montana NFL Pro Card 2 Ultimate Rare MINT
Year: 1990
Price: $1,624.49
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #2
Since a rookie card is one that features the player after the athlete has participated in the highest level of competition within his sport, it is safe to say that by 1990, Joe Montana has played enough football to qualify for a feature on a NFL Pro card. This 1990 card shows Joe in his 49ers uniform. The date on the card suggests that the picture was taken in 1989. Montana won NFL offensive player of the year and AP athlete of the year in 1989. This card is not graded but is considered valuable.
3. 2015 Panini Prizm Gold Prizms Refractor Joe Montana
Year: 2015
Price: $2,000
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #16
Panini made this beautiful refractor card in 2015 to celebrate the rookie year of Joe Montana. Fans who were in the stadium when Joe Montana first played can all be thankful for the opportunity to relive that moment with Joe again. On this card you can see Joe holding the ball, poised for a hurl, a dash down the field. Whatever the case, this card is rated highly at 10 by the PSA. The colors on refractor cards turn to rainbow colors when you turn them at an angle. Try it today if you have one, and then consider getting your card graded for sale.
4. 2020 Panini Encased Joe Montana Legendary Rookie Card
Year: 2020
Price: $2,499.99
Grade: BGS 9
Card Number: Not Numbered
In 2020 panini took fans down memory lane again by bringing to the light this Joe Montana rookie card. In his rookie year Montana spent most of the season as backup behind starter Steve DeBerg.
This is understandable since he was just starting out and didn’t have much experience like the veterans ahead of him. He spent some time on the San Francisco depth chart. Of course, prior to this, he had played for his college Notre Dame, appearing in a few freshman team games.
5. 1999 Joe Montana Signature Performances 49ers Uniform
Year: 1999
Price: $1,999.99
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #J2A
This card was made by SP Signature in 1999. It shows Joe Montana on the move, perhaps celebrating a win in the middle or at the end of the game. One thing is for sure, this card is very valuable. It was graded by PSA, rated a 10 in condition and authenticity. He is seen here wearing a Kansas City Chiefs uniform which puts this moment in the years between 1993 and 1994. Montana was traded to the Chiefs on April 20, 1993 where he signed a $10 million contract for 3 years. Our favorite player has always been a valuable player.
6. 2019 Joe Montana Panini Rookie Card Limited Ring of Honor
Year: 2019
Price: $1,249.99
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: Not Numbered
This trading card was made by Panini in 2019. It is ungraded but nevertheless worthy of a place on this list. It is valued at more than a thousand dollars. It features a classic take on rookie card appearance. This signed card is aptly named Ring of Honor. It shows Montana in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform. He is holding a ball, prepared to toss. The card is designed with white and red colors, a blue lining in the edges of the inset and the wordings. Panini definitely makes pretty good cards.
7. 1994 Joe Montana Topps Finest Refractor Rookie Card
Year: 1994
Price: $4,995.95
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #172
You have to admit that Topps makes some of the best refractor cards. This one is a Joe Montana rookie card with all the essential colors. Prepare to be dazzled by this card if you purchase it. It graded high at 9 by PSA, valued at a whopping $4,995.95. The card shows Joe Montana in his San Francisco 49ers uniform. This card was made in 1994, more than a decade after Montana played his rookie year. Do you have a refractor card with Joe Montana on it? Play with it for a bit, see if you get the rainbow effect.
8. 1989 Joe Montana NFL Player Of The Year
Year: 1989
Price: $1,250
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #2
Joe Montana raises the peace sign to his fans in a game here. This is a Pro Set Card from 1989, such a gem and a must have. He wears his uniform with the number 16 on it. Montana was playing with the San Francisco 49ers this year. In January that year, the team faced the Cincinnati Bengals.
Montana told the San Jose Mercury News that this outing was more gratifying than the others he’s been to because the road has been harder. When the Super Bowl came, Montana had one of the best performances of his career with 23 of 36 passes completed and two touchdowns.
9. Topps Joe Montana Rookie Card San Francisco 49ers
Year: 1985
Price: $1,900
Grade: PSA 10
Topps made this card in honor of Joe Montana in 1985. It shows Joe about to toss the card. He wears his numbered uniform for the 49ers. Montana’s efforts aided the 49ers advancement to the NFL playoffs in 1985.
A playoff is a single elimination tournament held after the main season games to determine who is the NFL champion. This Topps rookie card reminds fans of the game how much Joe Montana contributed to his team’s success and to American football in general. The card is graded 10.
10. 2021 Joe Montana Legendary Signatures Sapphire
Year: 2021
Price: $2,500
Grade: BGS 9
Card Number: #16
This signed card sapphire variety card was made by Panini in 2021. The card is graded 9 by Beckett Grading Services for good condition. This card shows Joe Montana in action in one of his games, likely from his time with the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1992.
11. Absolute Football Joe Montana Kaboom
Year: 2021
Price: $799.99
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #K17
A variety card made by Absolute, called Kaboom, shows Joe Montana playing for the San Francisco 49ers. The design of the card is reminiscent of comic strips with superheroes drawn on a background of an explosion. It is fun to have such a card in your collection especially if you followed football in the days when Joe Montana played it. This card is graded 9 by PSA.
12.Joe Montana Leaf Certified Mirror Red Signatures
Year: 2004
Price: $500
Grade: BGS 9
Card Number: #137
This Joe Montana card was manufactured by Leaf in 2004. It is a flashback card of the athlete in his heyday. It is signed on the front, graded 9 by Beckett grading professionals. The jersey in this picture shows Montana was playing for the Kansas City Chiefs when the picture was taken. The Chiefs mailed three jerseys to him with number 3, 19, 16. He chose 19 which he wore when he played youth football.
13. Panini Absolute Joe Montana True 1/1 Laundry Tag Patch Auto
Year: 2018
Price: $2,999.99
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #1
This highly valuable card is a product of Panini. It was manufactured in 2018 and shows Joe Montana in his number 16 jersey for the San Francisco 49ers. It is ungraded but this in no way reduces the sentimental value this card brings to whoever owns it. The card design reminds fans of gazing expectantly at the scoreboards as the game heats up.
14.Joe Montana Topps Archives Signature Rookie RC Reprint
Year: 2001
Price: $2,999.99
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: Not Numbered
Topps remains one of the most popular trading card makers of all time. They’ve made cards for major sports. This card shows Montana playing for the 49ers. This is like a game where the team is getting the upper hand. One highlight from this period of Montana’s career was when the team finished the 1980 games with a 6—10. Montana had passed for 1,795 yards and 15 touchdown passes against 9 interceptions.
15. Score Joe Montana Personalized Inscriptions Card
Year: 2003
Price: $1,000
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #16
This is a personalized inscription card. It has Montana’s signature on it. Cards with signatures are a collectors prize. They give the feeling of authenticity that makes them more valuable as the years go by. This card is ungraded and was made in 2003. It is protected in plastic lamination. Montana is seen here holding the ball, either on the run or is about to pass it.
16. Topps Joe Montana GEM Mint Card
Year: 1982
Price: $1,500
Grade: BGS 9.5
Card Number: #113
Here is a Topps card of Joe Montana made in 1982. Montana was playing for the San Francisco 49ers this year. On January 10, this year his team faced the Dallas Cowboys at Candlestick Park in the National Football Conference Championship Game. San Francisco won the game 28—27. Joe Montana’s effort contributed to this win. This card is graded 9.5 by Beckett Grading Services.
17. Topps Gold Parallel Joe Montana Card
Year: 1992
Price: $2,195
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #719
This Topps gold parallel card is graded 10 by a professional grader. It features Joe Montana in his last year with the San Francisco 49ers. Sadly, Montana who had missed the 1991 season also missed most of the 1992 season on account of an elbow injury he got during the 1991 pre-season. He only played the second half in the Monday Night Football Matchup.
18. Joe Montana National Treasures Greatest Signatures
Year: 2012
Price: $1,499.95
Grade: BGS 9
Card Number: #24
Let’s just say Joe Montana has achieved the status of national treasure with this card. Beckett graders checked this card and graded it 9 out of 10. It features a photo of Joe Montana in his San Francisco 49ers jersey with his helmet on. This picture is not attached to any time in his career other than the fact that it indicates the era which is between 1979 and 1992.
19. Stadium Club Joe Montana Lone Star Signatures
Year: 2000
Price: $2,000
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: LS31
Stadium Club made this card of Joe Montana in the year 2000. It was a fitting one as it was the turn of a new century. The card is signed and shows Montana in his San Francisco jersey. He is holding a ball and gazing off camera, likely at his teammates. Personally I’d say Stadium Club could have done better with the design of this card. When you look beyond the design and focus on the signature and good rating, this card lists here as one of the most valuable.
20. Panini Flawless Greats Joe Montana Dual Patch Sapphire Auto
Year: 2016
Price: $4,000
Grade: BGS 9
Card Number: Not Numbered
There are Montana cards, and there are more cards out there. This highly valuable Panini card is from 2016. It is graded 9 by BGS graders. It features Montana’s signature and a picture of him with the ball. The card is tagged flawless, and I agree.
21. Joe Montana 24 K Gold 1 of 1 Topps
Year: 1995
Price: $2,500
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #24
Topps made this card in 1995. It is a significant year for the San Francisco 49ers because on April 19 of that year, Joe Montana announced his retirement before a huge crowd at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco. It was a big occasion that was televised; there were speeches from John Madden, football coach and commentator in the NFL, and DeBartolo Jr.
22.Joe Montana Fleer Premiere Edition Sports Trading Card
Year: 1990
Price: $2,750
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #10
In 1990 Montana led the 49ers on their best season record of 14—2 in the NFL. It was this year he was named Sportsman of The Year by Sports Illustrated. However the team struggled with their run game as no member of the team exceeded 500 yards in the entire year. This card is ungraded but considered very valuable.
23. Joe Montana National Treasures
Year: 2007
Price: $2,999.99
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #55
Once again comes a national treasure card with Montana’s face on it. It was made in 2007 and features the athlete’s time with the 49ers. It is graded PSA 10, numbered 55 and one of the most valuable on this list.
24.Topps Football Cello Pack Joe Montana Card
Year: 1983
Price: $1,950
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: Not Numbered
This Topps card reminds fans of when the 49ers missed the playoffs in 1983 and the team considered trading Montana off to the Baltimore Colts in exchange for the rights to the first overall pick in that year’s NFL draft. Thankfully, they didn’t and instead traded their first round pick to the San Diego Chargers. This card was graded PSA 10 and very valuable.
25. Joe Montana Rare Topps
Year: 1986
Price: $3,999
Grade: BGS 9.5
Card Number: #156
This rare card from Topps is from 1986, very valuable and graded 9.5 by Beckett Grading Services. Montana suffered a severe back injury on week one of the season. His doctor told him then to consider retiring. By September 15 he had been placed on the injured reserve list. Finally he co-received the 1986 NFL Comback Player of the Year Award.
Final Thoughts
It is always a pleasure to go back and peek into the life and times of your favorite football players and their teams. The various cards on this list are invaluable in making these journeys possible. Did you find a card or two you don’t yet have in your collection? Now’s the time to check these cards out and update your library.
